A thick cloud of smoke lingered over Kyiv on Friday morning after a night of intense Russian airstrikes that Ukrainian officials say targeted nearly every district of the capital. The attacks came just hours after a phone conversation between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which failed to produce any breakthrough toward ending the war.
According to Ukraine’s air force, Russia launched a record 550 drones and 11 missiles overnight, with 72 drones breaching the country’s air defenses. Air raid sirens rang for more than eight hours as waves of explosions rocked Kyiv in what officials called one of the largest aerial assaults since the war began.
At least 23 people were injured in the capital, with fires damaging schools, homes, vehicles, and railway infrastructure. Footage released by Ukraine’s emergency services showed firefighters working through the night to extinguish blazes caused by the bombardment.
Poland’s foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski, confirmed that the Polish embassy in Kyiv sustained damage during the strikes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks as “demonstratively significant and cynical,” pointing to the timing—shortly after Putin’s call with Trump—as further proof that Russia has no intention of ending the conflict.
He called on international partners, especially the United States, to respond with increased sanctions against Moscow and to resume full military support.
Meanwhile, Russian officials reported that a woman was killed in the Rostov region near the Ukrainian border following a Ukrainian drone strike.
Other regions hit overnight include Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv, as Russia continues its intensified campaign of aerial attacks amid stalled ceasefire negotiations.
Speaking to reporters after his phone call with Putin, Donald Trump expressed frustration over the lack of progress.
“I’m very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin, because I don’t think he’s there,” Trump said. “I don’t think he’s looking to stop, and that’s too bad.”
Trump also addressed concerns about a recent decision in Washington to pause some arms shipments to Ukraine. He insisted that the U.S. is still supplying weapons but criticized the Biden administration for what he described as excessive transfers that risk depleting U.S. military reserves.
The latest wave of Russian attacks marks another escalation in the war, now in its third year since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Ukrainian officials warn that without consistent military aid, their ability to defend against such large-scale strikes will continue to erode.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
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